Water/fluids surgie/backflow protection systems and management

ABSTRACT

This design addresses the problems of high tide/surges entering the discharge outlets of piping from pumping stations that discharge into a reservoir/body i.e., lake, river or waterway that is affected during storms, hurricanes or heavy rains driven by high tides and wind, that render pumping inefficient at least and inoperable at worst. This is a bypass system of piping into a manifold header that includes an inlet from the pump&#39;s discharge pipe, a discharge outlet and a second optional discharge—by pass outlet. It also includes optional automatic shut off valves in the piping scheme and variable speed drives on the pump motors. The by pass discharge outlet piping also includes an ancillary piping arrangement that allows portions of the discharge flow to be directed back into underground aquifers to replenish the diminishing water table level that contributes to subsidence. This system is subject to many possible modifications.

REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURE

The present application includes and refers to the Provisional Patent Application No. 61/199,428 filed on Nov. 18, 2008; titled Water/Fluids Surge/Backflow Protection System And Methods.

Additionally, a Certificate of Mailing and a self addressed Post Card Receipt are included.

TECHNICAL FIELDS

The present invention initially relates to the existing designs and methods of operation and maintenance of pumping stations that attempt to regulate and control the discharge and outflow of drainage systems water collection caused by rainfall, tropical storms and/or hurricanes, to the interior lands within the levee protection system.

The existing system/pumping stations are limited in their performance when abnormal amounts of water are deposited for collection, removal/transferring to outside reservoirs/lakes/rivers outside of the levee protection system, caused by the above mentioned elements. The problem results from high tides and wind driven surges resulting in backflow at the discharge outlet of the pumping/piping when rendered below workable sea level conditions

The preferred first embodiment of the new invention addresses the existing conditions with proposed improved design, for installation and operation that corrects these problems by raising the level of the existing pumps and installation of automated valves (to replace the existing manual valves) and at the same time incorporates a second embodiment By-Pass automated valve that is remotely controlled in conjunction with the preferred first discharge valve, so when the first discharge valve is closed, the liquid/water is diverted to the automated, opened second discharge (by-pass valve) through a manifold chamber constructed to connect the inlet pipe of the manifold (which is the discharge of the pump) to either the normal level discharge valve of the first embodiment or to the second embodiment by-pass valve that discharges over a high wall levee extension into the deposit area i.e., hake, river or reservoir.

The second embodiment (by-pass valve) also offers a third option tie-in for partial discharge from it's extended piping arrangement with optional manually controlled discharge lines to pump/infuse some of the discharged liquid into diverted/valved lines to feed aquifers at various depth levels to help replenish the falling water tables that lend to the subsidence problem.

This third option taps into the extended discharge line upstream of the final terminal end of the second discharge line that empties into a lake, river or reservoir. This branched line includes at least three individually valved lines to potential different aquifer depth levels for infusion to either one, two or all levels desired.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION: STRUCTURAL DETAILS OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in FIG. 1+, this arrangement includes a manifold with an Internal bore that connects to the pump discharge pipe that serves as the manifold inlet with piping connection located on each end of the extended manifold to connect to the respective commercially available valve which are automated to control the No. 1 discharge valve outlet on one end and the No. 2 (by-pass) discharge outlet on the opposite end that extends over a high levee wall and terminates and discharges flow into a lake, river or reservoir.

The pump in the pumping station that transfers the water from the interior drainage canals to the lake/river/reservoir is driven by a variable speed drive which allows for various capacities of water to be delivered proportional to the drive speed of the pump motor. In addition, the pump is controlled by a remote automated control system. This design allows for exercising the system and infusing the water table at times when the level is not requiring a by-pass operation to replenish the aquifers.

BACKGROUND ART

Existing pumping stations usually have the discharge pipe outlets at or slightly above average sea level. So, when a high tide arrives and is driven by an ensuing storm, hurricane with heavy rains and wind, the capability of the pumping process is diminished by tide/surge and in severe conditions, pumping ceases.

Without a bypass system, under the adverse conditions mentioned, devastating conditions usually result in disasters from uncontrolled interior flooding inside the levee protection system, which in many cases is also inadequate, due to improper design and maintenance.

The only prior art that displays a bypass system is primarily designed for liquid refrigerant management is in a closed refrigerant system. These type valves were designed to combat the Ozone depletion and harmful effects of greenhouse gases. These devices were limited in size to accommodate refrigeration/A/C systems on a much smaller scale.

Although the design and methods are capable of performing at a much larger size/level, the entire valves were manufactured to be installed into O.E.M. refrigerant systems or installed as retrofit installations into existing units/systems as opposed to the proposed new design of the field design, fabrication and installation of piping systems for water management required for flood control systems, even though the principal is relatively the same.

Therefore, the only prior art referred to are:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,557; December 1992 by Hubbell, Jr 62/292X

U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,774; March 1995 by Hubbell, Jr 62/77; 62/192

These two designs were primarily intended for refrigerant liquid and vapor management in a closed refrigerant system.

The present invention addresses and solves the above mentioned problems, when used with the prescribed design, techniques and methods and provides other advantages over the present means which will be further discussed below.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Structural details of the 1^(st) embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1; Includes commercially available shut off valves 1 and 2 connected to a manifold chamber 4 a passageway at opposite ends with an inlet pipe 3 a and it's proximal end connected halfway between valves 1 and 2 and distal end connected to the pump discharge pipe.

Valve 1 inlet connects to passageway 4 a at one end of the manifold chamber with it's distal end/discharge outlet serving as the normal operational flow discharge into a reservoir/lake/river or body of water when sea level elevations are satisfactory. The water pump that connects with the manifold inlet is controlled by a proportional/variable speed drive pump motor, allowing several stages of pumping capacity piped into the manifold chamber that also includes a similar valve No. 2 that functions as the bypass discharge valve when high tide/surge conditions require same, as both valves 1 and 2 are controlled automatically to open one and close the other simultaneously. This No. 2 valve is connected to the manifold chamber on the opposite end from valve No. 1 and is piped 2 a to discharge over a high wall into the waterway/reservoir.

An additional option is available to connect discharge line 2 a to line 5 a which contains shut off valves on each side of a strainer then branches out to at least three ancillary piping lines 5 a 1, 5 b 1 and 5 c 1 each with manual throttling/shutoff valves that are connected to potential infusion lines of different depths that terminate in underground aquifers, thus allowing the replenishing of the sinking water table that contributes to subsidence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1:

Valve No. 1 is normally open (backseated) to the passageway chamber 4 a which allows flow from the inlet 3 a pump discharge pipe through outlet piping 1 a into a waterway; valve No. 2 is closed (front seated) to the passageway chamber, thus directing the flow to the opposite open end of the passageway chamber. This scenario applies to normal level/low average tides. When conditions change and require a different scheme of operation, due to high tides/surge caused by storms, heavy rainfall and/or hurricanes, the automated valve operation shifts the simultaneous closing (front seating) of valve No. 1 and opening (backseating) of the ByPass valve No. 2 to divert the flow of inlet 3 a through the passageway 4 a into and out of discharge outlet piping 2 a over a higher elevation flood wall into a waterway reservoir.

At the same time the optional use of discharge line 2 a can be utilized for ground water infusion, is desired.

FIG. 2;

The discharge line from valve No. 2. 2 a provides an ancillary tap off pipe 5 a which feeds a strainer that includes shutoff valves on the inlet and outlet (for maintenance) and from this outlet feeds at least three additional take off lines 5 a 1, 5 b 1 and 5 c 1 branches that include throttling/shutoff valves to service a potential ground water aquifer for infusion to replenish the sinking water table which lends to subsidence. This function can can also be utilized for exercising the infusion system during periods that do not require a normal bypass operation caused by high tides.

FIG. 3:

Shows the normal position of the valve No. 1 (open) which allows flow through discharge piping 1 a into the waterway at which time valve No. 2 remains closed and no ByPass operation is required.

Also shown is the position of the respective valves No, 1 and No. 2 in the ByPass mode; No. 1 valve closed with No. 2 ByPass valve open, allowing the flow to be redirected to discharge at a higher level over an extended floodwall when high tide conditions exist.

FIG. 4:

Picture of the schematic flow of the conditions described in FIG. 3 when No. 1 valve is normally open with No. 2 valve closed and vise/versa. When No. 1 valve is closed while No. 2 valve is open in the ByPass mode.

FIG. 5/Picture:

Shows the level of the discharge piping outlet at mean level elevation/tides at the Bonnabel pumping station. This is shown to exhibit the potential position of the discharge restrictions at high/surge tide levels. This illustrates the need for a ByPass piping arrangement/design that would allow continuous uninterrupted pumping under severe conditions.

FIG. 6:

Drawing displays the proposed new pumping station at the mouth of the 17^(th) Street canal on Lake Pontchartrain with a ByPass piping system with Floodgates. 

1. Two independent valves connected to a manifold with a passage way chamber by a piping design that connects to an inlet pump discharge line for a normal flow through an outlet pipe into a waterway at low/normal tides to transfer interior drainage systems utilizing valve No. 1 to transfer the collection of water deposits that could lend to flooding caused by heavy rains and/or storms and hurricanes.
 2. Utilizing the same manifold design piping arrangement to adjust to changing conditions that could cause storm surge high/tide levels that would render the pumping operation ineffective at best and totally inoperable at worst, by switching over to a ByPass option.
 3. A method of using the No. 2 (second) valve at the opposite end of the manifold/chamber piping design to utilize a ByPass operation which allows the diversion of the discharge outlet flow at a raised higher elevation pipe over a floodwall without the restriction of storm surge.
 4. The method of claim 3 is accomplished by utilizing an automated system that is controlled remotely whereby the program is directed to simultaneously close valve No. 1 and open valve No. 2 which transfers the operation to a ByPass mode, thus allowing the continued pumping operation under adverse conditions resulting in flood protection within the interior of the levee system.
 5. A sub step of claim 2 and method of claim 3 is the incorcorporation of an ancillary piping system connected to the discharge pipe outlet of the ByPass valve No. 2 before it's distal end and includes a filter in line with at least three additional valved individual out lets of the main ancillary line to direct some flow into ground water various depth aquifers.
 6. A method to implement claim 3 is as follows: When the piping system is in the ByPass mode, the ancillary piping (2 a) arrangement connected to the discharge valve No. 2 is designed to filter and divert some of the discharge flow into one or more individual pipes leading to potential infusion system piping to divert and deliver some of rain water from the interior drainage system into ground water aquifers to help replenish the falling water tables in some areas. These individual lines can be directed and connected to various depth levels as per hydrologists specifications and recommendations. 